Shopper{40 s kit

ABSTRACT

A receptacle for insert-type envelopes and writing panels having a head assembly on one end including a cutting blade being normally locked in a concealed position, together with containers for selectively holding said envelopes and panels within the receptacle. A finger engaging portion is provided to move the blade into a partially exposed position for use. The invention also includes a writing instrument on which is mounted a normally guarded cutter blade.

1451 Aug.6, 1974 United States Patent 1191 Croft 99 XH w00 /55 611|. 0 2

[54] SHOPPER'S KIT 2,681,677 6/1954 Poe1t1.......

1761 invento HaffyE-Cmffww-Ferdinand l si:311:1....iiiiiiiiiiiiii" Ave.,chicag0,11l.6o644 Ju1y7, 1972 Primary Examner-William I. Price [22] Filed:

Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman [2l] Appl. No.: 269,555

SHOPPER'S KIT The invention relates to improvements in a shoppers kit of a kind including normally guarded means for clipping coupons and the like, from advertisements, and novel means to contain such coupons as well as merchandise stamps, and, including further, novelmeans enabling one to make up a shopping list and enclosing it in the kit.

More specifically, newspapers and advertising fliers frequently reproduce coupons which, for example, entitle the purchaser of a specified product to a cash discount if the coupon is presented to the seller. Such coupons must necessarily bev cut out of the newspaper or flier and it is for this purpose that the shoppers kit includes a convenient cutting device which normally is protected but which can be exposed for use readily. Such coupons as are collected by the shopper are filed away in the shoppers kit for subsequent use and any trading stamps or receipts received with purchases may likewise be stored in the kit. Further, the kit includes a novel erasable writing panel and a writing instrument tofacilitate making up a shopping list.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an article of the character referred to.

Another object is to provide a shoppers kit with a retractable cutting element and means to retract or extend the same.

Another object is to provide a shoppers kit with novel retractable .removable containers for coupons, stamps and the like and removable panels having an erasable writing surface.

Another object is to provide a receptacle for movable containers with novel means to retain them enclosed in the receptacle and means to store coupons therein.

Another object is to provide an article of the character referred to which is not expensive to manufacture and which is efficient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

ln the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shoppers kit.

FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken substantially on line 2 2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one of the writing panels.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one of the envelope-type containers.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the head portion of the kit, showing the cover part thereof removed.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the lock members and finger engaging movable member removed.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the head portion, taken substantially on line 7 7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a view of the removable head portion, taken substantially on line 8 8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the lock lever.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the lock lever.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the finger engaging lever.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the finger engaging lever.

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of a modified form of structure.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary elevational view of the member shown in FIG. 13, taken at right angles to the FIG. 13 view.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary elevational view of another embodiment showing a non-movable cutter blade therein.

Referring to the exemplary form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 12, the device, herein referred to as a shoppers kit, comprises a flat substantially rectangular casing 11, which is comprised of spaced front and back walls, 12 and 13, a bottom wall or spacer 14, and a head assembly 15. Preferably, the front wall 12 is transparent. One side of the casing has a side wall 16 which is offset inwardly to accommodate a marking instrument, such as the pencil 17 shown, which has one end nested in a recess 18 provided in the bottom face of the head assembly 15, and its other end seated on a ledge 21 formed by an extension of the bottom wall 14.

The open side 22 of the casing provides an opening for a receptacle defined by the front and back walls to permit selective withdrawal from the receptacle of one or more of a plurality of envelope-type containers 23 and one or more writing panels 24. The containers 23 are open on the edge facing the opening 22 and each is hingedly retained in place by a pin 25 bridging the receptacle at its lower extremity. An edge tab 26 on each envelope projects outwardly beyond the side edge of the casing to enable the user to grasp same and rock an envelope into the open position shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. l. The user may, for example, place in these envelopes coupons or trading stamps or other data bear'- ing material.

The writing panels 24 likewise have a projecting tab 27 but these panels are removably pivoted on the pin.

25 so as to be fully removed from the receptacle. The panels are preferably rigid plastic or plastic surfaced as to be washable. When removed, a shopping list may be written on the panels or they may be washed clean for re-use.

The head assembly 15 is made of two principal parts. One part 28 is integrally attached to the upper end of the back wall 13. The other or companion part 29 is spaced from the opposed face of the back part by a gasket 31 and is secured to the part 28 by screw means 32,

The gasket 31 is so contoured as to provide clearance space for a razor blade 33 that normally lies within the confines of the head assembly, as best shown in FIG. 6. This blade is adapted to be partially projected from the head assembly as shown in dash-dot lines in FIG. 6 upon manipulation of a finger piece 34. As best shown in FIGS. 11`and l2, this finger piece comprises a strip of spring steel folded upon itself to provide a body 35 having a finger engageable portion 36 on one end and a leaf 37 formed, on its free end, with a short lip 38. When assembled, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the finger piece 34 is arranged beneath the removable head part 29 over the blade, with its lip 38 engaged in the usual notch 33a on the razor blade end. The finger piece 34 is apertured, as at 39, to permit passage of the screw means 32 which acts as a pivot for the finger piece. The head part 29 is provided with an arcuate slot 31 (see FIG. 1) through which the finger engageable portion 36 projects.

It should be evident that with the blade 33 in concealed position, the finger engageable portion 36 may be shifted downwardly in slot 31 to cause a portion of the blade to become exposed. However, such shifting 3 of the linger piece 34 normally is prevented by the seating of a pin 4l on said finger piece in a recess 42 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) on the inside face of the removable head portion 29. In order to shift the blade, the finger piece 34 is depressed sufficiently to carry the pin 41 out of the recess 42. After shifting, the pin 41 seats itself in a second recess 43 (see FIG. 8) to lock the blade in exposed position.

However, before the blade can be moved from concealed to exposed position, a release lever 44 must be actuated. As best shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, this release comprises a strip of spring steel apertured near v one end, as at 45 (see FIG. 9), and having a finger engaging portion 46 on its other end projecting outwardly of the head portion 29 through a slot 47 for finger engagements. The finger engaging portion 46 has a downwardly extending tail piece or lug 48 that normally seats in a'notch 33b in the razor blade end. To release the blade for movement, the finger engaging portion 46 is lifted upwardly to disengage the lug 48 from notch 33b. The blade will now be free to be moved upon manipulation of the member 34.

ln order to prevent inadvertent outward swinging of the envelopes 23 and panels 24, a resilient band 51, such as a rubber band, is anchored on a pin 52 carried by the stationary head part 28 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) and extended out of the side of the head. Said band is then carried downwardly beneath the tabs 26 and 27 and around the body of the casing, as best shown in FIGS. l and 6, to effectively secure the envelopes and panels therein.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15, the shoppers kit includes the casing l1 having a head portion a in which is secured a razor blade 33. As shown, the blade is immovably secured with but a small portion projecting outwardly of the head assembly. A cover 53 ispivotally secured at S4 to the head assembly for movement into a position covering the blade.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are illustrative of another modification, wherein a writing instrument 55 is provided adjacent one end with a cutting blade 56 that is protected against inadvertent contact by a forked leaf spring 57. In use, the spring is laid against the work piece and the blade is forced downwardly through the forked spring into contact with said work piece.

Although I have described preferred embodiments of my invention in considerable detail, it will bev understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, as details of the structures shown may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be limited to the exact constructions described and shown.

I claim:

l. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially flat rectangular casing defining a substantially rectangular receptacle, said receptacle opening on one side edge of the casing, a plurality of envelopes and panels arranged in said receptacle and movable through said opening, a finger engaging tab on each envelope and panel projecting outwardly of the opening, means to normallyv retain the envelopes and panels entirely within the receptacle, a head assembly on one end of said casing having a slot therein, and a cutter blade mounted in said slot and movable into exposed and concealed positions.

2. The device recited in claim I, in which the finger engaging tabs are all adjacent to one end of the envelopes and panels and said envelopes and panels are pivotally mounted in the receptacle at their other ends.

3. The device recited in claim I, wherein finger engaging means is provided in the head for moving the blade from one of its positions into the other.

4. The device recited in claim 3, wherein the finger engaging means includes means to lock the blade in exposed or concealed positions.

5. The device recited in claim 3, wherein the finger engaging means has yieldable engagement with the blade.

6. The device recited in claim l, wherein auxiliary releasable means is provided to lock the blade in concealed position.

7. The device recited in claim 6, wherein the auxiliary means comprises a release lever accessible on the outside of the head.

8. The device recited in claim l, wherein-the means to retain the envelope and panels within the receptacle is comprised of an elastic band.

9. The device recited in claim 8, wherein the elastic band is anchored in the head.

10. The device recited in claim l, wherein the slot opens onto the end edge of the head.

11. The device recited in claim l, in which a longitudinal recess is provided on one edge of the casing, a writing instrument is arranged in said recess, and an opening is provided in the head to receive one end of said instrument nested therein. 

1. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially flat rectangular casing defining a substantially rectangular receptacle, said receptacle opening on one side edge of the casing, a plurality of envelopes and panels arranged in said receptacle and movable through said opening, a finger engaging tab on each envelope and panel projecting outwardly of the opening, means to normally retain the envelopes and panels entirely within the receptacle, a head assembly on one end of said casing having a slot therein, and a cutter blade mounted in said slot and movable into exposed and concealed positions.
 2. The device recited in claim 1, in which the finger engaging tabs are all adjacent to one end of the envelopes and panels and said envelopes and panels are pivotally mounted in the receptacle at their other ends.
 3. The device recited in claim 1, wherein finger engaging means is provided in the head for moving the blade from one of its positions into the other.
 4. The device recited in claim 3, wherein the finger engaging means includes means to lock the blade in exposed or concealed positions.
 5. The device recited in claim 3, wherein the finger engaging means has yieldable engagement with the blade.
 6. The device recited in claim 1, wherein auxiliary releasable means is provided to lock the blade in concealed position.
 7. The device recited in claim 6, wherein the auxiliary means comprises a release lever accessible on the outside of the head.
 8. The device recited in claim 1, wherein the means to retain the envelope and panels within the receptacle is comprised of An elastic band.
 9. The device recited in claim 8, wherein the elastic band is anchored in the head.
 10. The device recited in claim 1, wherein the slot opens onto the end edge of the head.
 11. The device recited in claim 1, in which a longitudinal recess is provided on one edge of the casing, a writing instrument is arranged in said recess, and an opening is provided in the head to receive one end of said instrument nested therein. 